Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in health, ethnicity and marriage.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Wolverhampton increased by 5.5%, from almost 237,000 to 249,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wolverhampton was home to, on average, 26 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the West Midlands' third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More single parents

This area saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, Coventry saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 12% in 2001 to 14% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households in Wolverhampton had a single parent, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 33% to 29%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the West Midlands' joint second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents, alongside Coventry. The largest rise was seen in Birmingham

During this period, Wolverhampton overtook four local authority areas, including Tamworth and Wyre Forest, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) households in Wolverhampton had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 31% to 31%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

This area saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Across the region, only Sandwell (from 63% to 77%) and Birmingham (from 66% to 79%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as good or very good, as the regional average grew from 67% to 80%.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) in Wolverhampton said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.2%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’good’ or ’very good’ health was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that that said their health was good or very good across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wolverhampton

The number of people in Wolverhampton from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 180,000 in 2001 to just under 170,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 78% to 68% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wolverhampton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 35,000 in 2001 to about 45,000 in 2011 (from 15% to 18%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 11,000 to about 17,000 (from 4.6% to 6.9%).

Just under 13,000 people (2.7%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 6,400 in 2001 (5.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wolverhampton decreased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wolverhampton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Wolverhampton

This area saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, only Worcester (from 30% to 37%) and Stoke-on-Trent (from 30% to 36%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 29% to 34%.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) people aged 16 and over in Wolverhampton said they were single, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 49% to 44%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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